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Glioblastoma is the most frequent and aggressive primary tumor of the central nervous system. Prognosis is poor, with a median survival of 15 months after diagnosis. Various tumor biomarkers show prognostic value for glioblastomas, including VEGFR2, which is a receptor of VEGF related to the growth of the blood vessel network. VEGFR2 expression associates with poor prognosis in some tumors. Here we studied the prognostic value of the VEGFR2 immunohistochemical expression in glioblastoma. We used tissue microarrays to analyze 45 surgically excised samples from glioblastomas. Clinical data (age, sex, and Karnofsky Performance Status [KPS]) and morphological data (tumor necrosis, palisading, and vascular thrombosis) were collected. We performed a molecular study of MGMT and IDH1 expression (which are potential prognostic factors for glioblastomas) and an immunohistochemical study of VEGFR2 expression. Our results indicate that age, KPS, tumor necrosis, vascular thrombosis, treatment (STUPP versus other), and VEGFR2 immunoreactivity were related to prognosis (p < .005). In a multivariate analysis, only age > 65 years (Hazard Ratio (HR) (95% CI): 4.9 (2.1¿11.4), p < .01), and VEGFR2 immunoexpression (HR (95% CI): 2.8 (1.3¿6.1), p = .008), were found to have a statistically significant relation to prognosis. We conclude that immunohistochemical evaluation of VEGFR2 provides added prognostic value to the study of glioblastoma., This work was supported by grants from the Fundació La Marató (num.20130332) to FA, and the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad/ ISCIIIFEDER (PI14/00125; PI17/00199) and the "Generalitat de Catalunya" (2017/SGR/225) to PN.

Purpose: Met receptor phosphorylation is associated with poor prognosis in human small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The aim of our work was to investigate the effects of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/Met–mediated epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in SCLC and to evaluate the role of Met inhibition in mesenchymal/chemorefractory SCLC models. Experimental Design: SCLC models of HGF-induced EMT were evaluated in vitro and in vivo (subcutaneous xenografts in BALB/c nude mice) for chemosensitivity and response to Met inhibition with PF-2341066 (crizotinib). Human SCLC samples at diagnosis (N = 87) and relapse (N = 5) were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence for EMT markers and Met status and these were correlated with patient outcome. Results: We identified that the activation of the Met receptor through HGF induced expression of mesenchymal markers, an aggressive phenotype, and chemoresistance. Blockade of this process with the Met inhibitor resensitized cells to chemotherapy in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, mesenchymal markers in human SCLC specimens were associated with Met activation, predicted worse survival, and were upregulated in chemorefractory disease. Conclusion: These results provide novel evidence on an important role of Met-dependent EMT in the adverse clinical behavior of SCLC and support clinical trials of Met inhibitors and chemotherapy in this fatal disease. Clin Cancer Res; 20(4); 938–50. ©2013 AACR.

[Purpose]: Trastuzumab-emtansine (T-DM1) is a standard treatment in advanced HER2-positive breast cancer. However, resistance inevitably occurs. We aimed to identify mechanisms of acquired T-DM1 resistance. [Experimental Design]: HER2-positive breast cancer cells (HCC1954, HCC1419, SKBR3, and BT474) were treated in a pulse-fashion with T-DM1 to induce a resistant phenotype. Cellular and molecular effects of T-DM1 in parental versus resistant cells were compared. CDK1 kinase activity and cyclin B1 expression were assayed under various conditions. Genetic modifications to up- or downregulate cyclin B1 were conducted. Effects of T-DM1 on cyclin B1 levels, proliferation, and apoptosis were assayed in human HER2-positive breast cancer explants. [Results]: We obtained three cell lines with different levels of acquired T-DM1 resistance (HCC1954/TDR, HCC1419/TDR, and SKBR3/TDR cells). HER2 remained amplified in the resistant cells. Binding to HER2 and intracellular uptake of T-DM1 were maintained in resistant cells. T-DM1 induced cyclin B1 accumulation in sensitive but not resistant cells. Cyclin B1 knockdown by siRNA in parental cells induced T-DM1 resistance, while increased levels of cyclin B1 by silencing cdc20 partially sensitized resistant cells. In a series of 18 HER2-positive breast cancer fresh explants, T-DM1 effects on proliferation and apoptosis paralleled cyclin B1 accumulation. [Conclusions]: Defective cyclin B1 induction by T-DM1 mediates acquired resistance in HER2-positive breast cancer cells. These results support the testing of cyclin B1 induction upon T-DM1 treatment as a pharmacodynamic predictor in HER2-positive breast cancer., This work was supported by ISCiii (CIBERONC CB16/12/00481, RD12/0036/0051, RD12/0036/0070, RD12/0036/0003, PIE15/00008, PI13/00864, PI15/00146, PI15/00934, PI15/01617, PT13/0010/0005), Generalitat de Catalunya (2014 SGR 740), and the >Xarxa de Bancs de tumors sponsored by Pla Director d'Oncologia de Catalunya (XBTC). MINECO through BFU2015-71371-R grant supported work in A. Pandiella's laboratory. Our work was supported by the EU through the regional funding development program (FEDER). P. González-Alonso was supported by Fundación Conchita Rábago de Jiménez Díaz grant.

MET is a tyrosine kinase receptor that, upon binding of its natural ligand, the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), is phosphorylated and subsequently activates different signalling pathways involved in proliferation, motility, migration and invasion. MET has been found to be aberrantly activated in human cancer via mutation, amplification or protein overexpression. MET expression and activation have been associated with prognosis in a number of tumour types and predict response to MET inhibitors in preclinical models. Here we review the HGF/MET signalling pathway, its role in human cancer and the different inhibitory strategies that have been developed for therapeutic use.

Background: Small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) has poor prognosis and remains orphan from targeted therapy. MET is activated in several tumour types and may be a promising therapeutic target. Methods: To evaluate the role of MET in SCLC, MET gene status and protein expression were evaluated in a panel of SCLC cell lines. The MET inhibitor PHA-665752 was used to study effects of pathway inhibition in basal and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-stimulated conditions. Immunohistochemistry for MET and p-MET was performed in human SCLC samples and association with outcome was assessed. Results: In MET mutant SCLC cells, HGF induced MET phosphorylation, increased proliferation, invasiveness and clonogenic growth. PHA-665752 blocked MET phosphorylation and counteracted HGF-induced effects. In clinical samples, total MET and p-MET overexpression were detected in 54% and 43% SCLC tumours (n=77), respectively. MET phosphorylation was associated with poor median overall survival (132 days) vs p-MET negative cases (287 days)(P

The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT and RAS-MAPK pathways are deregulated in a wide range of human cancers by gain or loss of function in several of their components. Our purpose has been to identify genetic alterations in members of these pathways in prostate cancer. A total of 102 prostate tumors, 79 from prostate cancer alone (group G1) and 23 from bladder and prostate cancer patients (G2), are the subject of this study. In 20 of these 23, the bladder tumors were also analyzed. PIK3CA, KRAS, BRAF and AKT1 mutations were analyzed by direct sequencing, and BRAF also by pyrosequencing. PIK3CA quantitative mRNA expression and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) gains were tested in 25 and 32 prostate tumors from both groups (G1 and G2), respectively. Immunohistochemistry for pAKT was performed in 55 prostate tumors. Of 25 prostate tumors, 10 (40%) had PIK3CA mRNA overexpression that was statistically associated with Gleason score ≥ 7 (P=0.018). PIK3CA copy gain was detected in 9 of 32 (28%) prostate tumors. Of 20 bladder tumors, 3 (15%) displayed mutations in PIK3CA, KRAS and AKT1, the corresponding prostate tumors being wt. We also detected a previously not reported PIK3CA polymorphism (IVS9+91) in two prostate tumors. In all, 56% of prostate tumors overexpressed pAKT. There is a statistical association (P

Undifferentiated human melanoma cell lines produce a large chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan, different from the well-known melanoma-specific proteoglycan mel-PG (Heredia and colleagues, Arch Biochem Biophys, 333: 198–206, 1996). We have identified this proteoglycan as versican and analyzed the expression of versican in several human melanoma cell lines. Versican isoforms are expressed in undifferentiated cell lines but not in differentiated cells, and the isoform expression pattern depends on the degree of cell differentiation. The V0 and V1 isoforms are found on cells with an early degree of differentiation, whereas the V1 isoform is present in cells with an intermediate degree of differentiation. We have also characterized some functional properties of versican on human melanoma cells: the purified proteoglycan stimulates cell growth and inhibits cell adhesion when cells are grown on fibronectin or collagen type I as substrates, and thus may facilitate tumor cell detachment and proliferation. Furthermore, we have analyzed the expression of versican in human melanocytic nevi and melanoma: 10 benign melanocytic nevi, 10 dysplastic nevi, 11 primary malignant melanomas, and 8 metastatic melanomas were tested. Immunoreactivity for versican was negative in benign melanocytic nevi, weakly to strongly positive in dysplastic nevi, and intensely positive in primary malignant melanomas and metastatic melanomas. Our results indicate that versican is involved in the progression of melanomas and may be a reliable marker for clinical diagnosis.